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Puzzles for May, 2026
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (6)Editor (5)Jim Horne (13)Hide comments
Fri 5/1/2026
OARSOCCAMSCAN
NEONLOOFALIPO
ARMADILLOSYAPS
LOCKANDLOADALE
OBOESTETOLSEN
GEMSWAGCOASTS
MAKEBELIEVE
SPOILERALERTS
COUPLESONLY
ANNULSOKSAMFM
POSSEMMAATARI
ARTTHEMUNCHIES
BOERERADICATES
LURKACTINNAPE
ESSOTHETADIRS
Sat 5/2/2026
MOONSHOTSFLAT
AUNATURELRARER
STAGENAMEALANA
HINGESPERMABAN
UNDERNOPEEKING
PLODCARSWEAT
SANGENAHORNS
COLORWARS
SHALEYORKBOA
WORDSTOEBAND
LATESTFADDOMED
ILLSTARTRAWBAR
ELISAATMINSIDE
DONERGOBANANAS
WEDSSOANYWAYS
Sun 5/3/2026 What Are the Odds?
ICHCPROKEDSATATOP
MUDHOLEPITATEACHME
ATTUNEDPLASTICSHEETS
GIVESADARNHORSTRATA
INSILEOSEARES
NOEASYTASKSTICKYPADS
ENTRAPSSEWINONA
INREERINNODRAMA
BRIDGETJONESLOWDIGIT
EINSNOGTHRUSAFEST
LEFTAWRYYOREETTE
ISAYSOLEASFILMWES
KENKESEYCHILDSUPPORT
ENTENTEPHYSEZRA
TENHUTACCAORTAL
BARBARIANSTHINKPIECE
ELIAEDTOREACA
AMONRAHEWACCOUNTREP
NOTQUITERIGHTBROCODE
NEUTRALMAMAOBTUSER
DRESSUPPHEWPSAEDS

Circled "odd" letters in theme answers combine to match the clue in the following answer.

Mon 5/4/2026
COASTABBAGAPS
OATESFOBSAMAT
CHICKFLICKLENA
OUTLANIONIC
BRICKBYBRICK
ITSLITLUMET
NIKONSCARYRS
CLICKITORTICKET
ALPHUGEMAINE
SATONMOPTOP
PICKUPSTICKS
ADLIBETAWAS
DEANGETSTHEICK
MASTPROMBELAY
ALSOSANEOLDIE

Each theme answer contains ICK twice.

Tue 5/5/2026
GOTOPITCHHOPON
ARALHOOHAIDAHO
LADYFINGERTECHS
LLAMASARAHSKEE
PDFSIMONSAYS
ARTISANMEAN
SHEAKETTLESIDO
HEADLESSHORSEMAN
YAMINTOYOUNARC
MACESNARLED
TRADEWINDSCI
RASHSMEARMCRIB
EMCEENATUREHIKE
ABORTETUDEEPEE
TOTESWOMENDEAF
Wed 5/6/2026
LIEHAMMBRACED
INTRIGUERESALE
BLUEBELLBATMAN
RADIICBDPEONY
AWESMHEVER
ICEHAIRPBJ
ODDNUMBERSPERU
CROSSPOLLINATED
HALTHOLYTOLEDO
OWLVISAOTS
MISTARFADE
METOOSAGOCCAM
ENROLLSOCRATIC
AZALEAPRIMROSE
TOMATOSAGERYE
  • BLUEBELL crosses HIBISCUS at B
  • PEONY crosses ASTER at E
  • AZALEA crosses VIOLET at E
  • PRIMROSE crosses DAISY at S

The four crossing letters spell BEES.

Thu 5/7/2026
JAMIEMUGPOET
AGAVEUSESARLO
CARELESSMISTAKE
KIRVCRNAILS
SNORKELINN
WINLESSSEASON
RABBICATEOVA
ILOSTAHASPRIG
TINTRIGKURDS
AGELESSBEAUTY
ARKAMASSES
SAYITECOILL
ENDLESSSTRUGGLE
TAZOKETOAPHID
SPEWWARESTES
Fri 5/8/2026
HATESONATEASE
THERENOWSWANKY
TAXEXILESORTIE
PSTMOORSSLIPS
PANSEARACS
AWMANSORESPOT
CHERUBNASTMOP
TEDTALKNEATENS
INSLOOPTRADES
ICESTORMTRYST
NHLSKIAREA
KROFTSENORKPH
YOOHOOSINKHOLE
IMLATETODIEFOR
VESTEDCATSITS
Sat 5/9/2026
ALCHEMISTSBIRD
MEREMORTALALOO
YOUREEARLYBLOG
SIXERTAKEARFS
GREWSTRATI
PAWNEEBYTECOT
OREOFREEADEPT
KINDASORTAMAYBE
ESTERARILBOAR
RHOSPRYSCOURS
PANEERSKOR
APTSIMHOATOLL
RIOTSCARYMOVIE
TRUEMAKEUPGAME
YORESTEAKSALAD
Sun 5/10/2026 Come Full Circle
ADSSWABFCCCIGIPAD
SUNSHADEWHOOHOSILO
SPACEINVADERMEGAMALL
ALFATOESANTIARTNIL
YOUTHFULINDISCRETIONS
TOONDALEKDERN
LEARREVERESNACL
WHIRRRESDIFCHASM
REFDIASBOWDIETTEE
AREANYTICEBERSBEET
POSTABSSUNBSETANTE
SITENATOLDBADEHIHO
UNOLENONOSLORDGRR
PERSESPFMAGERHUS
YUTZSOILIEDSCAT
CPASDLISTCLAW
ROCKANDROLLHALLOFFAME
EHHSICARIOLEOSIWAS
AWAYTEAMCLOSETHELOOP
DOSESROIMPCHEWELRY
EWESTDSTETHESSSIS

Wow. The three BLOCKs going down from square 65 animate to black so the grid art can "come full circle" and turn what looks like a C into an O.

The italicized clues do the same trick — turn every C into O to match the answer.

  • U.F.C. fighter U.F.O. fighter
  • Where many large cutlets are seen Where many large outlets are seen
  • Wild cats Wild oats
  • Chic venue that features great bands Ohio venue that features great bands
  • bcced booed
  • Bic fillerBio filler
  • Travelers' cases → Travelers' oases
  • Arsenic's realmArsenio's realm
Mon 5/11/2026
DERLLAMAAIMED
AXEGABONSWEAR
BILLBOARDCHARTS
BLOATSSEVEN
LEADFESSTHAW
EDDYTILPOACH
HORSDOEUVRE
ACQUITSUMPTEEN
SOUNDSTAGES
AMAZENUNCHOP
PEDISTOPHAHA
PLAITTHIRDS
DROPINTHEBUCKET
JADEDLEASTEAR
SHEDSERUPTDRY

Oh, dear! Across answers with circles highlight O and kinds of DEER.

Tue 5/12/2026
STARTFEELEWES
OILEROGLEVEST
FLAVOUROFTHEDAY
ALSMRSENSUE
ABDUCTORS
COLOURINGBOOKS
JAMINESTEPEA
ORATEDELITES
INNERSTOPENS
NEIGHBOURHOODS
OUTBREAKS
DWELLMILFAT
OHYOUAREBRITISH
DERNBILLKAFKA
ONEGCOKEEXIST

The circled O, U, and R in 58-Across not only repeat the British (and Canadian!) OUR pattern, but when you sound it out, you get Oh, You Are! Nicely done.

Wed 5/13/2026
TAXISRSERDOCS
AXONPEAPARROT
PLUSSIGNATEASE
SETTEASEALMA
DOLLARSYMBOL
STEEPSMEET
LAVACHINAINU
OPENPARENTHESIS
GASABASEWOKE
TCBYSPOKES
QUESTIONMARK
ULTANEATOILL
ANUBISSHIFTKEY
RADIUMTANVEER
TRENDSSLYSAKE
Thu 5/14/2026
SCARPSLIDPSI
ALLMEUMAMIOHM
COLORPHOTOSTAO
STANDINGHHMARK
TITOROUTE
ONTHEHHCANNONS
DEISMFIATISTO
DEMSMITTENKIN
EDENARCOEKING
RETAINSHHWINGS
DRACODUST
RAINHHPITCHERS
ASAIHEARTRADIO
GALNORSEERICA
UPSGEOSWATER

The circled H-O-H sequences represent water molecules. WATER is added to the end or beginning of the theme answers.

  • STANDING+WATER & WATER+MARK
  • ONTHE+WATER & WATER+CANNON
  • RETAINS+WATER & WATER+WINGS
  • RAIN+WATER & WATER+PITCHERS
Fri 5/15/2026
HILTLIVEWIRES
OMENBANANASEAT
MATTAPECOSTUME
ELMELIZAHOSEA
CLEAVESNITESL
HEADEDSTRUM
EATINBELABORS
FREDTAGONDOES
SMASHCUTBEGAT
SHAKETELUGU
GMCEWWCISTERN
READEOGRESWAN
ITSUPTOYOUCAPE
NEEDLEDROPOVER
DRYSEASONMESS
Sat 5/16/2026
URLSSCRIMWREN
COATPHONESHOME
LUNALITTLEOLME
ANDYKIMWATTLED
DEBATECONTESTS
MEDAYSHAGEL
AMOCODICERLID
NUUKFEATSMANI
EPTSEEPSZARFS
COUPEVIRGOS
SECONDSTRINGER
TRAVAILEXCISED
RIVERSEINENOVA
EVENSTEVENADEN
PODSSPEWSLARK
Sun 5/17/2026 Double Meanings
GLITCHASTIGALTLGA
AURORATHEUNACAIBOWL
DRAWINGBOARDPENNAMES
SENSEROLLTIDEDELANO
RAINDELAYITAL
WADENNERENICARPALS
OVERTOASTANNEXISAW
WARRANTIPSGASSTARE
INMAYOGREWHUPHAD
ETONSAGUAROONETIME
CHICKENSANDWICH
BABYISHREADIESRISK
AIRGALELIONAINTI
TOUCHUNDTONHOTFOOT
ILIAAMOURSTONETILE
KINSHIPLEAFWBCSLED
SALSCANOPENER
ONEARMPECORINOASPCA
MATTRESSTRUSTBUSTERS
ITSTINKSTAMMYSPITAT
TOYSTATOKSOCYRANO
Mon 5/18/2026
TIEDPRADAAGAR
UCLARAMENVIDI
BABYLONIANAVIS
AROSEGLUEEEK
SEWTOYOTAPRIUS
MOUELSAT
ISSASACKOMAHA
MINISTRYOFMAGIC
STALKNADADOPE
KEEPAREA
WEEDWHACKERKAT
AXESASHAIOLI
STYESTARTSMALL
TRESERRORALOE
EASTSODOICATS

Theme answers start with BABY, TOY, MINI, and WEE — all words that mean SMALL.

Tue 5/19/2026
DIETSMORECASS
ACNEIOWANCLOP
PENTATONICSCALE
SERESOUPSON
CHAIRUMPIREKID
PODSCAINEBASS
AWSFLAGAUNT
TEAMSPORT
TCBYKIWIMTN
LOOSAGILEBOHO
EWWTWINENGINES
CAPEANNEGAD
TWODRINKMINIMUM
EASYNIGERFIDO
RYESGESTESEEP

Thick black squares in theme answers identify drinks — two in each.

Wed 5/20/2026
TIKIBAREMBOSS
HATERADEVIENNA
OFFYEARELECTION
OTISODINROOD
GUCCIRECANTS
SOUPOFTHEDAY
ERRNOLOTATER
ACERBYOMCLARA
LASERHODAKIN
VISUALEFFECT
SAGEOILALEAP
PIERGTOSLOBS
ISNTTHATSPECIAL
CLEESERECKONSO
YESDADASSENTS
Thu 5/21/2026
ITEMNILELLAMA
TAXIOVALAODAI
STANMONKNODES
BACKWARDSCAP
AMTRAYLISBOA
DIADEMPSIARM
MAACUTOFFTEE
SKULKOREELTON
MINISKIRTMAL
OLDELSTUXEDO
GOOIERFIRSIB
STRIPEDSOCKS
SWISHFURYBADE
PIQUEFRAUIRIS
ANSELYELPTSKS
Clue Visual Effect Answer
timiL "Limit" written backwards BACKWARDS CAP
Golfer's suppor- "Support" with the T cut off CUT-OFF TEE
ᴱᵛᵃᵈᵉ (small superscript) A "mini" version of "skirt" (evade = skirt) MINISKIRT
P | u | n | c | h | e | s "Punches" with stripes between letters STRIPED SOCKS
Fri 5/22/2026
BICEPSMESOBRIE
ETALIIOAKFOREST
ASKINGFORAFRIEND
KNEEMONTDOLTS
SOSCALLHOME
TISHKILMEROLA
OHCOOLGINAKPOP
KILLWITHKINDNESS
ONEDNOTESEENTO
KGSPETSPAAWOL
UNSOLVEDFUL
OCCAMNAIRIFSO
ALLBARKANDNOBITE
FOOLSMATESPICES
STYESLATTASERS
Sat 5/23/2026
BARBETSARMOR
AVIARIESNEURO
DOGBREATHYADDA
ENVIESREOCLEM
GREEDSOAPSTARS
GEDSPANDACARS
SPAGANGPLANK
LOUDSHIRT
MARLSTONEFAB
MATEINONECOPE
DIRTYNAMEMONTE
AMIEAKABANTER
RONANECTOPLASM
TSARSHOTLANTA
HASTATHEWEST
Sun 5/24/2026 Next, Please!
REDOSLABADEPTWILT
IRANHOURCURIOPATIO
CONTROLLEDCHAPSINSPO
ESCHEWDARESANDART
EELSTENTGIGALES
ARRAYTHATSSONOTOLAY
DEPPMIREDAPTAROD
ATOPCHIGRODYEVEN
MISSEDABEAUTOOLGERE
SEELATWHAMNGOORSO
GIVEMEONESEASON
DECOIDOYAMSBTURNA
OMANDILLCONTACTLEOS
COMETEAMOALAISIS
JERIMOISPILTFORE
FIRSTCLASSNAILBERET
SPARAINTORNCAST
HEROINEMAPSOTTAWA
ADOREDISSONANTCHORES
RILEDTAKERDISKREEK
PALSONICESPAYYAKS

Circled letters in standard phrases are replaced by the next letter in the alphabet to match the clue. The circles in order spell PLUS ONE.

Mon 5/25/2026
KIDSMILDMOTEL
EDITACERIMAGE
LOVESCENELEMON
PLEATDARKNESS
LAWNMAT
SPAGHOSTPEPPER
ALPSASHSALIVA
LANETEACHOPEN
ATEASEWOETEND
DEATHVALLEYSTY
TENATOP
BESMIRCHYAWNS
AZTECHOTHOTHOT
TRUNKOBOEHIVE
HANDSSONYSPAM
Tue 5/26/2026
ZEROHORNUTAH
ECONOREOSMAYO
SHARPTEETHPREP
TODATEFOODGAP
MALTKEENEYE
JUMPSAWNOTED
ANAGALADANE
BODYOFKNOWLEDGE
RATETHAIAIR
ADELESIRPDFS
WISEASSOFFS
APPMAILSAYSSO
IDEDSMARTMOUTH
TYCOHONDAPROM
SETHNEARSEWS
Wed 5/27/2026
WALDOELMDARTS
ALIENMIOAGAME
IDEALBADCREDIT
FOURSCOREAND
IDOSRPICCS
MAGEASKNOTWHAT
ONOGLENSAHARA
RONDODALLONER
PRAYTOVEALGET
HAVEADREAMTENS
SKYMOIDISH
PARTOFSPEECH
ROBOTSUMOIGLOO
ABORCANOTALIA
NINTHLITSPANX
Thu 5/28/2026
GANDHIOWLSOPT
OHIOANVIOLHOE
TENORTWENTYNIX
OMARAARGHSOSA
MECCAASTROS
PASTORPRESENT
MITTMAINAPE
SENSATEROSSSEA
ANADELTELON
FACTORFICTION
EGOISTPARSE
WELLINTROEARP
ORAMAYORMAYNOT
RIDARSEPLEATS
DEADYESSIDLED

In common "X or Y" phrases, the first two words are combined to match the clues.

Fri 5/29/2026
CESARACHESARA
ALLTOOSOONALUM
SMALLWORLDPAPA
HOPLINDYWIRES
LINEMAHOMES
RAZINGTONES
ICINGEASYREADS
TROTSAXEEXTRA
ZENSTATESDUMAS
CORKSROASTS
SCORPIOROIL
TOKESSTEWSRUE
ACMEWHATDIMISS
NOONTERRYGROSS
DAMSFRAYNITRO
Sat 5/30/2026
TREAWOLATBATS
WARSTORYNEOPET
INAWORLDNEWCAR
SESAMEOILSELMA
TEEMNAANNAST
PROBOBSTU
BREADANDROSES
PLAYTIMESOVER
PROTEINSHAKES
ROOZENTEN
USDAREGSBOOM
DEMURRENTPARTY
ICONICTAILGATE
SCOTCHMINISTER
HONSHUELSEERS

8-Across: It would take a real pedant to argue that "times up" in baseball does not equal "at bats," but since I'm apparently a pedant, here are the most common ways times up (plate appearances) do not register as an at bat:

  • Walk (BB)
  • Intentional walk (IBB)
  • Hit by pitch (HBP)
  • Sacrifice fly (SF)
  • Sacrifice bunt/sacrifice hit (SH)
  • Catcher interference (CI)

There are a few others, like fielder's obstruction (a fielder illegally blocks a player's path to a base), and the rare game-ending walk-off out-of-play out (for example, wild pitch or runner caught stealing)

All this matters because the batter's batting average is hits/at-bats, not hits/plate-appearances, and for some reason, this is still the most common metric for hitters.


32-Across: BREAD AND ROSES: uses two simple, contrasting symbols to express a sophisticated political philosophy:

  • "Bread": Represents economic security, fair wages, and physical survival. It stands for the baseline necessities of life—food on the table, a safe place to live, and manageable working hours.

  • "Roses": Represents dignity, education, beauty, art, and quality of life. It asserts that the working class deserves the time and resources to enjoy life's finer things, rather than being treated merely as cogs in an industrial machine.

Sun 5/31/2026 Target Practice
INCASAHABJOCKSOS
TEMPEHCENAEUROSYNC
SWITZERLANDTREASURER
SANSPASTURESALIBABA
AGOTAJMARKSMANSHIP
DERBYATFPRIUSGISTS
ARCHERYSSNPED
MURALSUEROARED
UNCUPLITSTARRSEAS
DEADBEATVIAACHCNN
SPARROWFRISKTHEBIGA
AIREWEUAEEYEEXAMS
WETSNELLYPAESEGUT
HERESYABESISSY
NORIAMROSSINI
SCATSENDEDWHOHTTPS
SHOOTINGSTARLSDRAW
HARVESTPARASITECURE
AFTERLIFEWILLIAMTELL
PEARAREAIMOKMORTAL
EDSMEEKNITSPLOYS
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